The cow that jumped from a moving truck headed to a slaughterhouse in Paterson has gained its freedom, a name — Brianna — and given birth to a healthy black and white calf named Winter.

Now, nearly a week after the calf's birth, many continue to question whether any laws were broken in sending a pregnantanimal to slaughter.

There are no federal or New Jersey laws that prohibit the slaughter of pregnant livestock, according to animal welfare and legal experts.

Paterson's animal control officer, John DeCando, said he received calls from area residents who expressed dismay that a pregnant animal was being sent to slaughter. But little can be done without legislation against the practice.

"The farm, or wherever she came from, should be held to task," said Geraldine Taylor of Rutherford.

The treatment of livestock is governed by the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, which is enforced by the USDA. Other guidance can be found in federal codes regulating "animal products."

"Pregnancy is not covered under the humane methods of slaughter act," said Elizabeth Rumley, senior staff attorney to the National Agriculture Law Center.

Rumley said she was "more than 90 percent sure" that no statute prohibits such a practice.

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A cow got loose from a cattle truck and was found running across Route 80 in Paterson.
Courtesy of Stephen Thomas, North Jersey Record

The humane slaughter act and other federal codes regulate the living conditions of livestock and methods of transportation and slaughter, but the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey could find no reference within any document that concern the slaughter of pregnant animals as long as they are otherwise healthy and mobile.

One regulation prohibits the export by air or sea of animals during the fetus' final "10 percent of their gestation."

Maureen Linehan of the ASPCA concurred that she is also unaware of any law to that effect, and added the association has not researched the issue or lobbied for its control.

"The few federal laws governing farm animals welfare only address transportation and slaughter," according to the ASPCA's website. Those laws deal almost exclusively with transportation times, require that animals be stunned before slaughter and that sick cattle be kept from entering the food supply, according to the website.

"Animals raised for food are among the least-protected class of animals in our nation," the website states.

In the wake of the expectant sow's fight for freedom, DeCando has begun to lobby for more stringent controls of pregnant livestock. In a letter he sent to U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., DeCando called for legislature that would require inspectors to test all female animals for pregnancy before their transportation for slaughter. In cases where pregnancy is discovered, the animal would not be "transported, slaughtered or killed until the cessation of pregnancy through miscarriage or birth of offspring," his letter reads.

Federal codes forbid the slaughter of animals affected by certain conditions, but offer little in the way of specific definitions of conditions not related to disease or non-ambulatory disabilities.

"Livestock that cannot rise from a recumbent position or that cannot walk [...] is to be disposed of," reads one chapter of guidance to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, meaning it should not be slaughtered for food.

Another law states that unborn or stillborn animals are to be killed, and must be skinned away from other carcasses meant for food, but does not state whether this pertains to mothers who have already been slaughtered.

The USDA was unavailable for comment due to the federal government shutdown.

"Who knows how many other times pregnant animals didn't make it," Taylor said, referencing the daring escape for the sow who jumped 18 feet from the trailer's upper level onto Route 19.

The cow, dubbed Brianna, was sent to Skylands Animal Sanctuary and Rescue in Wantage where she gave birth to Winter. Both have become permanent residents of the sanctuary since the mother's daring early morning escape two weeks ago and are doing well, said the refuge's founder, Mike Stura.

"The baby is perfect, mom still has some abrasions that are healing" from her fall, Stura said with wonder.

"The post office needs to learn from these cows about packaging," he joked. "That she could have jumped onto the road like that without hurting the baby, I don't think this could be better."

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Cow that escaped death by running through Paterson is now a mom
Courtesy Skylands Animal Sanctuary and Rescue

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